Alcohol will be banned in campus apartments and dorms at Benedictine University in Lisle.

Alcohol will be banned in campus apartments and dorms at Benedictine University in Lisle. (Google Maps)

Christy Gutowski, Chicago Tribune reporter

Less than two weeks after two young women complained of being sexually assaulted at Benedictine University in Lisle, administrators informed students Thursday that alcohol will be banned in campus apartments and dorms, including for students who are 21 and older.

In the email alert, Benedictine President William Carroll announced that first-time violators could lose their housing privileges. A student's academic status would not be affected, he said.

Carroll promised to meet with parents and students of legal age to devise a "realistic alcohol policy" — a move student senate President Joe Ward said he'll push to see happen sooner rather than later.

"Students are very concerned," said Ward, a communications major from Evergreen Park who turns 21 on Sunday. "There's emotions of every level, as you can imagine would happen on a college university campus, but we're really trying to reach a mutual agreement."

An estimated 700 of the private college's 7,000 students live in one of three residence halls or in Founders' Woods apartments on campus, administrators said. The new policy most affects 21-and-older students in the apartments. Most students in the dorms are minors.

Students of legal age still may drink alcohol at a restaurant on campus and at sanctioned university events, administrators said.

Authorities said the women, both about 19, attended parties at the apartment complex Sept. 14 and later complained that they were attacked when they returned to the coed Neuzil Hall. Alcohol was served at the parties, officials said. One of the women is a Benedictine student, while the other is her friend.

Detectives interviewed six male students they characterized as "persons of interest," but prosecutors declined to pursue criminal charges, citing a lack of sufficient evidence.

When asked if the alcohol housing ban is in response to the recent reported assaults, Benedictine police Chief Michael Salatino said: "I don't want to say that was the driving force, but certainly it brought a lot into focus. If socializing gets to that point, then clearly it's our responsibility as administrators to step in and take action."

Students have until 10 p.m. Friday to rid their campus residences of liquor.

Salatino said the ban will not be too cumbersome to enforce.

"We're certainly not going to go door to door and look in refrigerators and under beds," Salatino said, "but if it comes to our attention that this policy is being violated, sanctions will be imposed."